AN ENERGY company is preying their platforms will pull in ospreys to the southern Borders - and prevent them being electrocuted.

SP Energy Network's engineers have also built special perches above power lines at the Born in the Borders premises near Jedburgh.

The brewery and visitor centre, which attracts around 30,000 people each year, has been host to two rare ospreys from Africa for the last few years.

But fears have been growing for their safety after both were seen landing on power cables at the Lanton brewery.

Johan Gillespie, customer engagement manager at SP Energy Networks, told us: “We were called in to help at the Born in the Borders premises in Lanton after there were concerns raised about the welfare of an osprey family that had been seen landing on live poles.

"Together with the team at Born in the Borders, we were able to limit the risk of any danger to the ospreys by inserting dummy poles for them to rest on.

“A perch was also inserted above the equipment on one pole as well as bird diverters being placed along power lines to minimise any risk.

"We were more than happy to help and we’ll keep in touch with the team at Lanton to make sure the site is safe for the ospreys to continue to spend their spring and summers there.”

After being deemed extinct in the UK, the reintroduction of ospreys has become a success story with around 240 breeding pairs now across Britain. Henderson, owner of Born in the Borders, and Rosie Shields, a local osprey enthusiast, wanted to make sure the Lanton ospreys stay clear of any danger and perhaps add to the growing numbers.

Mr Henderson told us: “For the last few years, we have been lucky enough to have been visited by a pair of ospreys who return each spring to the same tree, and have successfully reared several chicks.

"We noticed that the birds were beginning to become a little bit too comfortable near power lines so we spoke to SP Energy Networks and worked with them to bird proof some of the poles beside the live wires.

"Thanks to SP Energy Networks, as well as the organisational ability of local resident Rosie Shields and some wonderful volunteers, we also installed an artificial platform to help them re-build their nest and make them feel extra welcome during the spring and summer months.

"At the same time, we installed a CCTV camera, which transmits live footage of the nest to our restaurant.”

The present pair of ospreys at Born in the Borders are nicknamed Samson and Delilah.

Rosie Shields said: “I can’t thank SP Energy Networks enough for what they have done.

"I feel that the safety measures put in place have helped these iconic birds enormously to remain safe around their nesting site.

"The engineers were so enthusiastic and couldn’t have done enough to make sure the birds were going to be as safe as possible from the live wires and equipment. I hope they’ll take up our invitation to come back and see the birds as they raise their family during this and subsequent summers.”